Electromagnetic device.



H. G. GEISSINGER.

ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.12,1909.

946,21 5. Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

Q} N w W N Mk c 7* N m o A 00 k u (3 3 w o N v gl -wc nfoz HG Ge wsuzger ym-tuna W V by 6W6QrW WWW, flaw 'lar UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY- oam'r cnrssmoan, or miwvonx, int, assrenon r0 dnrssmonn REGU- LATOR compan or maw Yoax, N. Y.', a conronarron or new YORK."

ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

Application filed April 12, 1909. Serial 110.48%),370.

-Be it known that I, HARRY Gaais'r'Ga ssmear, a citizen of the United. .States, re-. siding atNew York, in the county of New York and State of New York, havednvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electromagnetic Devices, of which the; following is a specification. I

My 'nvention relates to. electro-magnetically operated devices and-especially to electro-magnetic valves.

-One of the bjects of my invention is to provide an electro-magnetic device which shall have a lar e lifting power or attractive force,and.,-for t hispurpose I provide for a, flow of current through the magnet 00' while the load upon the armature is being lifted and an immediate diminution of the current afterthe armature has reached its attracted or holding position, such decrease in current being effected automatically b the change in the a, magnetic flux throug the magnetic circuit." Another ob'ect is'to eilectthe regulation of the current without the use of. switches mechanically operated by the movement of the armature or plunger ofthe magnet.

Another object is to provide a magnetic- "ally operated valve in which the moving at right an les to Fig. 1.

parts are entirely incased and in which provision is made for the adjustment of the lift or stroke of the armature.

Other objects will appear from a consid-' eration of the invention hereinafter described.

In order that my invention may be better understood, reference is made to the following description inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which- W Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of one embodiment of my electro magnetic valve;

and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same taken It is wel known that the o ration of moderately sized valves under t e ordinary steam pressures employed in engineering, by electro-magnetic means, presents unusual difiiculties. In the ma or1ty of cases, the steam is withdrawn through the valve from a high to a low ressure and the ressure whether the valve is on or off itsseat. Accordin ly the electromagnetoperating the valveisk will be required to exert a pull,

at a distance equal to the lift of the valve, as

great as that required the (118k 1n 1ts raised position. Now it is magnetic circuit.

to hold or sustain known that the attractive force or pull of. an electro-magnet varies practically inversely asthe-square of the distance from its armature, and it will therefore be apparent that a much larger current will be required to start the armature from its distant position than Wlll be required to maintain it i'n its .position of closed contact. "If the starting current is three times the amount of the holding ornormal current, then the heat generated at the start will be nine times the normal. It is therefore necessary to provide some means for automatically reduc ng the current as soon as the armature has assumed its holding position. Various devices have been employed for introducing a resistance into the'circuit, but in so far as I am aware, this has been accomplished by operatively connecting a switch or circuit-controlling dev1ce w1th the plunger to be operated upon completion of 1ts stroke. I have found that such constructions are inapplicable to valves intended for highfluid pressures, by reason of the difliculty of maintaining the stuffing boxes. I have -"t herefore'devised an electro magnetic valve .in which the plunger and valve operatewithin a closed chamber and the movement'of the switch controllin the resistance or circuit connections is e ected by a change in the magnetic condition of the I am thus enabled to operate the plunger and valve in a closed compartment without any exterior connections and thereby dispense with the use ofstufiing, boxes, and the structure can'be readily made absolutely steam tight.

It is essential in valve operatin devices that some means shall be provide for ad justing the lift or travel of the valve-disk, in order to rovide for any alterations.inthe thickness 0? the: disk or. of the gaskets-used in sealin thejoints in assembling the'parts.

ncction forming the valve casing, having a valve seat 2 upon which the valve dlsk 3 1S adapted to rest, said valve dlsk being connected by a stem to the plunger or armature 5 of a solenoidal magnet, which is provided with one or more energizing windings 7, the leads 8, 9 of which are adapted to'be connected in a controlling circuit with a suitable source of electric energy by means of suitable conductors 10,.11. I have shown the plunger 5 operating'within a plunger tube. 13, constructed of non-ma etic material, said tube extending throng 1 the hollow magnet core and secured to the open top of the valve bonnet 14, and also to t e magnet core, the joints being made steam tight by means of gaskets 15. I have shown the magnet core formed of two hollow alined magnetic members 17, 18, se arated by an air-gap and provided with an es 17 and 18' which are joined outside of t e winding or coil 7 by means of yoke-bars 20 of such size that they may be magnetically saturated when the plunger is drawn up against the pole-piece 22. I have also rovided adjustable yoke-bars 24, 25, WlllCh are separated by an air-gap, the amount of which may be varied byraisin orv lowering the bar 24, for the .purpose 0 varying the magnetic reluctance of this path and determining the proportion of the magnetic flux that shall pass through the other paths of the yoke.

The path of the magnetism which actuates the switch operating device comprises an auxiliary yoke-bar 27, connected with core-portion 1 and the magnetic arm or plate 28, which projects from the opposite end of the magnet and extends over the bar 27 and is connected by means of a bolt 29, with the internal pole-piece 22. It will be observed that the pole-piece 22 is inside of the closed non-magnetlc plunger-tube and is adjustable vertically b means of the bolt 29, which is screw threa ed in tube 13, this arrangement being for the purpose of varying t e amount of travel or lift of the plum er 5. For the purpose of absorbing the s ock of the plunger, the pole-piece is recessed and contains a s ring 30 a ainst which the bolt 29 is adapted to rest an rovision is made for the necessary yiel ing movement of the pole-piece by means of an enlarged cross-recess 31 in which the securing pin 32 is secured. The plunger may carry a non-magnetic plate 33, to prevent adhesion to the pole-piece.

The switch and its operating mechanism are carried by the bar or plate 28, and comprise an adjustable magnetic piece 36 havmg a stem screw-threaded into plate 28, and constituting a pole-piece for this auxiliary magnetic c1rcu1t; and a movable piece 37, constituting an armature and havin a stem 38 mounte for vertical movement in a recess in the up or end of the yoke-bar 27. An insulating lock 39, secured to the plate 28, carries binding post 40 having a contact 41 at its lower end, and bmding post 42, to which is pivoted the insulatin switch arm 43. A contact 44 secured on t e outer end of the arm 43, cooperates with the contact 41, and is electrically connected with the binding post 42 by means of a' conductor 45 and pivot pin 46. An adjustable stop 47 on the stem 38 enga es the switch arm 43, when the armature 3 is attracted and raised against the pole-piece 36, thereby separating the contacts 41, 44.

The electricalcircuits are clearly indicated in Fig. 2. When the armature and switch arm are in the lower osition, as indicated, the current entering t e lead 10, passes by way of binding post 40, contacts 41, 44, switch arm conductor 45, binding post 42 and terminal conductor 9 to the magnet coil 7 and returns by the other terminal 8 to the return lead 11. When, however, the armature 37 is attracted, raising the switch arm and separating the contacts 41, 44, the circuit previously traced is broken and the current from the lead 10 must first pass through a resistance 50 and conductor 51 to the magnet terminal 9, whereby the current throu h the magnet is reduced in proportion to t e resistance thus introduced into the circuit. The switch operates to open the contacts and introduce the resistance after the plunger 5 has been raised, as will hereinafter appear.

By reference to F ig. 1, it will be seen that the magnetic flux or field generated by the current traversing the coil 7, passes from one core-part 17 to the other 18, mainly throu h the p unger 5, and the pole-piece 22 and t e intervening air-gap, causin the lunger to be attracted, the return pat of t e flux being through the yoke-bars 20. Now, when the plunger has moved upwardly into contact with the pole-piece, the reluctance of the magnetic circuit will be greatly reduced, thereby causing such a large increase in the magnetic flux that the path throu h the yoke-bars 20 will become saturated, orcin a ortion of the flux through the divide yo e-bars 24, 25, and the switch 0 crating path through the bars 27, 28, including the p ole-piece 36 and -movable armature 37.

he amount of flux passing through the latter path may be increased or dimmished by adjusting the length of air-gap between the auxiliary divided yoke-bars 24, 25.

The operation of my electromagnetic valve will be understood from the foregoing descri tion. The valve casing 1, is connected in t e ipe in which the passage of steam or other ii uid is to be controlled, and the leads 10, 11, are connected to the thermostat or other electric controlling. device. -When the valve-disk 3 is to be lifted from its seat, the full strength of the current flows through plun close ,the air-gap between the plunger and scene the mignetroil and charts the maximum power to lift the plunger. As soon as the has lifted the valve-disk and has thepole-pieoe 22, thereby decreasing the reluctance through the core, the increase in magnetic fluxwill saturate the yoke-bar's 20,

cause a marked increase in the flux through the'bolt 29, arm 28, switch parts 36, 37, and yoke-bar 27, thereby causing the movable switch member 37 to move upward into contactwith pole 36. This raises the switch arm 43-and introduces the resistance 50 into the circuit, cuttin down the current throu h the magnet coi to an predetermine amount, dependin upon t e pull necessary to maintain the p unger in its raised position. The switcharmature 37 is maintained in contact with the pole piece 36 by a magnetic flux, mainly. due to magnetic reluctance of the gap between pole-piece 22 'and core part 18, carrying the ma or'portion of the magnetic flux. My invention thus provides a means for operating a current-controlling switch which depends upon the movement or position of the plunger or armature of the magnet, but is independent of any mechanical connection therewith.

My electromagnetic .valve is especially ada ted to control steam or other fluid-control ing valves, because I am enabled to inclose the plun er in a sealed chamber directly connecte with the valve chamber and to dispense with stuiiin boxes and their attendant difliculties o maintaining tight It will be ap went to en 'neers in this art,that many c anges may made in the structure of the device or in the arrangement of circuits while retaining the salient features of my invention. v

I claim 1. An electromagnetic device comprising an electromagnet, meansfor varying the amount of current flowing through the energizing windings thereof, an armature, and means for operating said current-varying means responsive to a change of magnetic flux in the core of the magnet.

2. An electromagnetic device comprising an electromagnet, an armature and means mechanically independent of the armature for varying the current throu h the energizing windings thereof, depen ent upon the position of the armature.

3. An electromagnetic device comprising an electromagnet, an armature, and means for varying the strength of the electric current passing through the windings of the magnet comprising means responsive to a change in t e reluctance of the magnet c an electromagnet, an armature, a pole-piece,

a support for said pole-piece, cushioning being caused to operate by the magn means between the pole-piece and its support and means for adjusting the support to cause the pole-piece to move toward "or from the armature.

5. Anelectromagnetic device comprising an electromagnet, an armature, a sealed tube surrounding said armature,a magnet pole- .piece withincsaid tube, a support for said .pole piece adjustable within said tube, and

cushioning means between the pole piece and its su port.

6. An "e ectromagnetic. device comprising an electromagnet, an armature,a switch connected to the energizing windings of the electromagnet and-adapted to vary theeur rent flowing through said windings, main and auxiliary magnetic circuits, and means in said auxilia magnetic circuit for operating said SWltfil.

7. An. electromagnetic device comprising 5 an electromagnet, an armature, a switch connected to the energizing windings of the electromagnet and adapted to vary the current flowing through said windings, a sealed chamber inc losing said armature, aplurality of magnetie paths for the magnetic flux of the magnet, means in one of said aths for operating said switch, and means or vary ing the relative proportion of the magnetic flux traversing said paths. 95

8. In an electromagnetic device, an electro magnet, an armature, a switch controlling a circuit connected with the ener izing windings of the magnet, and means or operating said switch dependent u on the magnetic saturation of a portion 0 the magnetic circuit of the magnet.

9. In an electromagneticv device, an electromagnet, an armature, a switch controlling a circuit connected with the energizing windin s of the magnet, means for operating said switch dependent u on the magnetic saturation of a portion 0 the magnetic circuit of the magnet, and adjustable means for controlling the saturation of-said portion of the magnetic circuit.

10.'In an electromagnetic device, an electromagnet, an armature, and a switch member arranged to vary the resistance of the energizing circuit of themagnet, said switch etic saturation of a portion of .the magnetic circuit of the magnet.

11. In an electromagnetic device, .an electromagnet, having a plurality of magnetic paths, one of said paths comprising a portion having a substantially fixed magnetic reluctance and another portion having areluctance depending upon the magnetic saturation, an armature, a switch for controlling the circuit of the electroma 12. In an electromagnetic device, an electromagnet, having a plurality of magnetic paths, one of said aths comprising a portion aving a substantially fixed air-ga and another portion having a reluctance dizpending upon the magnetic saturation, an armature, a switch for controlling the circuit of the electromagnet, and an auxiliary armature operati'vely connected to said switch, said auxiliary armature being raised by the increased magnetic flux caused to pass therethrough by the ma netic saturation of a portion of one of sai paths and maintained-in its raised osition by reason of the reluctance of sand fixed air-gap.

13. An electromagnetic device com rising an electromagnet, a reciprocable mem er, an armature operatively connected to the reciprocable member, a sealed tube surrounding said armature, a magnet ole-piece within said tube, and means or varying the strength of the electric current passing through the windings of the magnet comprising means responsive to a change in the reluctance of the magnetic circuit.

14. An electromagnetic device comprising an electromagnet, a reciprocable member, a casing surrounding said member, an armature' operatively connected to the reci rocable member, a sealed tube surroundi said armature and communicating with said casing, a ma et pole-piece within said tube, and means or varying the strength of the electric current passing through the windings of the magnet comprising means responsive to a change in the reluctance of the ma etic circuit. I

n testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY GRANT GEISSINGER. 

